Display plate for openers of pre-scored cans

ABSTRACT

A plate adapted to enhance articles for sale in the presentation of advertising, and namely containers of beverages and the like that are opened with a levered opener permanently attached to a pre-scored area which is subsequently removed thereby, the plate being detachable to said opener and adapted to be suitably shaped and to carry and openingly present printed matter.

United States Patent 191 1111 3,822,496 Minder July 9, 1974 [54] DISPLAY PLATE FOR OPENERS OF 1,870,974 8/1932 Transue 40/306 2,708,802 v5/1955 Baker et a1. 40/331 PRE SCORED CANS 3,131,827 5/1964 Wheaton 220/54 Inventor: in Minder, 1 Colorado 3,749,275 7/1973 Smith et al 220/54 Blvd. N0. A22, Santa Monica, Calif. 90405 Primary Examinerl-larland S. Skogquist [22 1 Filed: Aug 23, 1973 Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras [21] App]. No.: 390,906 [57 ABSTRACT A plate adapted to enhance articles for sale in the pre- [52] US. Cl. 40/307 sentation of advertising, and namely containers of bev- [51] Int. Cl. G09f 3/02 erages and the like that are opened with a levered [58] Field of Search 220/54; 40/306, 307, 2.2, opener permanently attached to a pre-scored area 40/2, 20 which is subsequently removed thereby, the plate being detachable to said opener and adapted to be [56] References Cited suitably shaped and to carry and openingly present UNITED STATES PATENTS Prlnted matterl 941,302 'll/l909 Borden 40/307 X 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND:

Containers used for the retail merchandizing of beverages and the like are most often of the so called poptop can configuration, having a ring-shaped tab comprising a second class lever means attached to a prescored area and adapted to pry said area from the can top. There are several types of these pop-top" openers and those which are commercially available are characterized by a ring-pull in one form or another. In practice, the can tops with attached openers are made of a soft light weight metal such as aluminum. The material is thin and in the shape of sheet pressed and formed as will be described. It is the reinforcement and/or ring shape of these openers which is used to advantage in detachably applying the plate of the present invention, it being a general object to provide an attachment to the opener of a pre-scored can by which advertising media can be applied.

The present labeling of containers of the type under consideration is restricted for the most part to the cylindrical side walls and is viewable laterally. Although it may be possible to apply information onto the top of the can, this is not altogether practical for the reason that the prescored top and openers are obtained from supplies of large quantity manufacture without regard to what brand they are ultimately used with. Therefore, a person cannot peer down upon or into a box or chest of beverage cans and thereby determine the individual brand or content. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a means of labeling the tops of such containers, by a detachable means that can be applied with facility and without modification to the pre-scored top and opener unit.

The construction of containers for beverages and the like involves metal which is punched, formed, ex-

DISPLAY PLATE FOR truded, and/or scored, and all of which is well developed by the prior art. However, there has been no provision for attachment to or super-imposing plates or labels to the tops of cans, in a manner that can be said to be positive, and it is to this end that I provide a snapon or press-on plate that is thereby anchored to the opener which is permanently adapted to the can top or removeable pre-scored area thereof.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION:

This invention relates to the application of displays and the like to the tops of containers, and especially to beverage cans which have pre-scored tops and openers. The openers that operate to remove the pre-scored areas to which they are attached, arecharacterized by ring pulls and reinforcements thereof which are cooperatively combined with the plate of the present invention, to detachably secure the plate in working position atop the can. The can top and opener unit A is applied to the container or can B, the detachable plate C being secured to the opener O of unit A to overlie the top that is applied to close the container. The plate C is a flat element that overlies the opener O as shown in FIG. 1, and any portion of the top 10 as may be required and as shown'in FIG. 4.

DRAWINGS:

The various objects and features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred forms and applications thereof, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prescored can with the plate of the present invention installed to overlie the opener thereof. FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of the can and detachable plate as shown in FIG. 1. F IG. 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a second form of plate, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line55 on FIG. 4.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

The can top and opener unit A is characterized by the top 10 that is provided with a removeable prescored area 11 to which the opener 0 is permanently secured as by a rivet 12 extruded out of the sheet metal of the top. The opener is in the form of a second class lever, the rivet 12 being the fulcrum, with a lengthy ring-shaped extension 13 overlying the permanent portion of the top 10, and with a short lever arm 14 overlying the removeable pre-scored area 11. The ringshaped extension 13 and lever arm 14 are either or both reinforced by inner and outer peripheral flanges 15 and 16 and commonly by means of flanged or dimpeled openings 17 such as a depressed central opening that receives the rivet 12. The opener 0, as it is shown, normally lies flat and parallel over the top 10.

The detachable display plate C is provided for attachment to the opener O and in the first form of my invention shown in FIGS. 1-3 involves a planar member 20 that coextensively overlies the aforementioned elements of said opener, and a depending anchor 21 that disengageably secures the plate to said opener. The planar member 20 has parallel upper and lowerfaces 22 and 22, and it has a peripheral edge 23 conforming in planar configuration to the opener. The anchor 21 projects from lower face 22 and in accordance with this invention is formed to be forceably pressed into the ring-pull configuration of the openenAs is best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the anchor 21 is a divergent or notched wall that is pressed into engagement with the interior curvature or diameter of the'ring-pull, the divergence or notching thereof facing outwardly so as to be snapped into and captured by the inner periphery of said ring-pull. In practice, the plate C is a single part, the elements thereof being integral, and all of which can be advantageously made of molded plastic material adapted to receive printed media and be of any suitable shape or form.

The detachable display plate C is provided for attachment to the opener to overlie the top 10 beyond the area of the opener per-se, and in the second form of my invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 involves a planar member 30 that substantially coextensively overlies the top 20, and one or more depending anchors 31 that disengageably secure the plate to the said opener. The planar member 30 has parallel upper and lower faces 32 and 32' and it is shown as a peripheral edge 33 concentric in plan configuration with the can top 10. The anchors 31 are pin-like members that project from the lower face 32', and in accordance with this invention are each formed to be forceably pressed into one of the aforementioned flanged or dimpeled openings 17. As is shown, the flanges of said openings 17 are depressed and the bores thereof annularly disposed to be downwardly divergent, thereby facilitating entry therethrough of the pin-like anchors and to restrain withdrawal thereof. Thus, a light press fit of the anchors 31 .gle part, the elements thereof being integral and all of which can be advantageously made of molded plastic material adapted to receive printed media and be of any suitable shape or form. I

' From the foregoing it will be seen that a very practical display plate is provided for detachable application to beverage containers and the like havingpre-scored pop-tops. The detachable plate is adapted to the opener, andthe plate is fabricated as hereinabove described to be snapped and/or pressed into working position, and is removeable as and when required. To this end therefore the automated equipment and machinery for filling and topping such containers is in no way affected, and the simple nature of the plate hereinabove disclosed lends itself, in either form, to automated handling and inexpensive installation.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art:

I'claim:

l. A display plate detachable to the opener of a prescored container top, said opener comprising a flat lever member permanently affixed to the pre-scored area of the container top and normally lying contiguous to the container top, and including; a planar member with a top display face and with a bottom face engageable upon said flat lever member, and an anchor depending from the bottom face of the planar member andhaving means disengageable with the lever member, whereby said display plate is detachably applicable to the container top with its display face exposed upwardly.

2. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in'claim 1, wherein the lever member of the opener comprises a ring-shaped pull, and wherein the anchor depending from the'bottom face of the planar member is divergent with respect to the inner periphery of the ring-shaped pull and force- 4 ably disengageable therewith.

3. The detachable display'plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lever member of the opener comprises a ring-shaped pull, and wherein the anchor depending from the bottom face of the planar member is externallynotched and forceably disengageable with the inner periphery of the ring-shaped pull.

4. The detachable display plate for a containertop I with an opener as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the opener comprises a member with an opening therethrough, and wherein theanchor is pin-shaped and forceably disengageable through said opening.

5. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the opener comprises a member with a. recess having a downwardly divergent bore therethrough, and wherein the anchor is pin-shaped and forceably disengageable through the bore of said opening.

6. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the opener comprises a member with a plurality of openings therethrough, and wherein there is a plurality of anchors of pin-shape forceably disengageable through said openings. i

7. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the opener comprises a member having a plurality of recesses with downwardly divergent bores therethrough, and wherein there is a plurality of anchors of pin-shape forceably disengageable through each of said bores.

8. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display plate coextensivelyoverlies the lever member of the opener.

9. The detachable display plate fora container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display plate extends laterally from the lever member.

10. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as setforth in claim 1, wherein the dis play plate extends laterally from the lever member of the opener and substantially coextensively overlies the top of the container. v

Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference N 0. 98,940, involving Patent No. 3,822,496, I). V. Minder, DISPLAY PLATE FOR OPENERS OF PRE-SCORED CANS, final judgment adverse to the patentee was rendered Sept. 19, 1975, as to claims 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10.

[Oficz'al Gazette J cmuary 13, 1.976.] 

1. A display plate detachable to the opener of a pre-scored container top, said opener comprising a flat lever member permanently affixed to the pre-scored area of the container top and normally lying contiguous to the container top, and including; a planar member with a top display face and with a bottom face engageable upon said flat lever member, and an anchor depending from the bottom face of the planar member and having means disengageable with the lever member, whereby said display plate is detachably applicable to the container top with its display face exposed upwardly.
 2. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lever member of the opener comprises a ring-shaped pull, and wherein the anchor depending from the bottom face of the planar member is divergent with respect to the inner periphery of the ring-shaped pull and forceably disengageable therewith.
 3. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lever member of the opener comprises a ring-shaped pull, and wherein the anchor depending from the bottom face of the planar member is externally notched and forceably disengageable with the inner periphery of the ring-shaped pull.
 4. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the opener comprises a member with an opening therethrough, and wherein the anchor is pin-shaped and forceably disengageable through said opening.
 5. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the opener comprises a member with a recess having a downwardly divergent bore therethrough, and wherein the anchor is pin-shaped and forceably disengageable through the bore of said opening.
 6. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the opener comprises a member with a plurality of openings therethrough, and wherein there is a plurality of anchors of pin-shape forceably disengageable through said openings.
 7. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the opener comprises a member having a plurality of recesses with downwardly divergent bores therethrough, and wherein there is a plurality of anchors of pin-shape forceably disengageable through each of said bores.
 8. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display plate coextensively overlies the lever member of the opener.
 9. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display plate extends laterally from the lever member.
 10. The detachable display plate for a container top with an opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display plate extends laterally from the lever member of the opener and substantially coextensively overlies the top of the container. 